Methylmercury

Definition of methylmercury: Soluble and highly toxic compound of mercury formed in the environment by microbial methylation of mercury. This is the common definition for methylmercury, other definitions can be discussed in the article

Notes

methylmercury
X- represents a random ion

While inorganic mercury is the dominant form, most mercury which accumulates in benthic invertabrates and fish is methylmercury. Unlike most other metals, methylmercury biomagnifies through the food chain. As such methylmercury is expected to be most hazardous for organisms on the top of the food chain. So contain high trophic level carnivorous fish (like mackerel and tuna) to contain 10.000 times more methylmercury than the surrounding environment. Species eating these fish humans, sea birds and marine mammals) are expected to experience even more problems. However while this holds true for humans, marine birds and marine mammals appear to be quite resistant towards methylmercury accumulation.

Humans acquire methylmercury through consumption of fish and mussels. Usually this doesn't pose any health risks, although high consumption of predatory fish (with high mercury content) by pregnant women, might pose problems for the young and unborn babies. Methylmercury poisoning by consumption of fish food has caused human deaths in Japan. The consumed fish which caused this had mercury concentrations of 10-55 ppm (dry weight), most of it in the form of methylmercury.

Today public health standards for mercury are typically between 0,5 and 1ppm. The limit of 1 ppm generally applies to species for which a standard of 1 ppm would exclude a large proportion of the catch from the market. The limit of 1 ppm is typically coupled with the advise to to the public to limit its consumption of these species. You can also verify whether the fish you eat has been caught in a sustainable manner.

Case studies

PCB and heavy metals in beached sperm whales

See also

Mercury

Mercury pollution

Minamata disease